MEGAN TURNER

Serves as Project Lead, Lead Tailor, and First Hand.

She is an I.A.T.S.E. Local 769 member and holds a BFA in Costume Technology from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

 

Megan has created costumes for a variety of companies, including Broadway in Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Joffrey Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Virgin, Disney, and the FX Network.

 

She always thought she’d grow up to be an art teacher, and in a way, she kind of did. Costume making, like teaching art, is all about critical planning, implementation, creativity, problem-solving, and making something out of nothing. As a kid, she was a miniature enthusiast, a Barbie seamstress, and a Shrinky Dink and Sculpey savant. Basically, if it could be made by hand, she was on it!

​

Megan and her colleagues at The Costume Shop are classically trained costume makers. It’s a constant joy to discover new ways to enhance and streamline their process. They are always looking for ways to bring modern tools and approaches into the work while still honoring the deep foundation of traditional training that grounds them. For Megan, being part of Chicago’s costume community—and contributing to its legacy—is a beautiful thing to uphold.

​

One of her favorite surprises about the job? Watching her costumes pop up on social media. “Every holiday season, I get to see my Nutcracker builds make their rounds again, especially the Milwaukee Ballet Rats doing trending dances. We love to see it.”

 

If Megan had access to a time machine, she’d head straight back to 1990s Seattle, when the city was smaller, dirtier, and way more affordable. She wants the full grunge experience: hardcore flannel, loud music, and heart-wrenching sports drama. She’d cheer as the Sonics claw their way from a playoff collapse to the NBA Finals (and still don’t quite make it) and relive the “Refuse to Lose” Mariners’ epic late-season comeback. “It would be amazing to witness those moments with my sport-loving family,” she says.

​

What would she like to see more of at TCS? “More tailoring, please. We’ve hit our stride with period suits, and I’d love to keep that momentum going!”

​

To anyone looking to enter the costume field, Megan offers this advice: no matter how experienced someone is in this profession, there is always more to learn. Costume work is rich with nuance, and every project presents a new set of challenges and opportunities. Megan believes in staying curious—there are endless ways to approach a build or solve a problem. She advises paying attention to how trusted leaders navigate challenges while supporting their teams. Those experiences quietly shape how emerging professionals will lead when it's their turn at the helm.

 

And, imposter syndrome is real, especially in creative spaces filled with passionate, highly skilled people. But that doesn’t mean you don’t belong. Megan champions trusting your process, trusting your instincts, and allowing yourself to show up fully even when it feels intimidating. More often than not, beautiful and unexpected growth comes from that trust.